Liquid level controlled filling spout



April 18, 1950 o. F. RHODES LIQUID LEVEL CONTROLLED FILLING SPOUT 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1947 INVENTOR. 00m f'fifiades wa 0. F.RHODES LIQUID LEVEL CONTROLLED FILLING SPOUT April 18, 1950 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12, 1947 INVENTOR. F Elma/as Patented Apr. 18,1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID LEVEL CONTROLLED FILLING SPOUTOliver F. Rhodes, Peru, Ind.

Application February 12, 1947, Serial No. 728,159

Claims. 1

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in liquidlevel controlled filling spouts such as are especially adaptable for usein dispensing and delivering liquid from a supply tank to a container orother receptacle.

The invention has for a principal object the provision of an improvedconstruction of this character which will be highly efficient in use andeconomical in manufacture.

Among the several objects of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter hereinafter referred to that will automatically shut off theflow of liquid from the supply tank to the container or otherreceptacle, when the liquid delivered to the container or otherreceptacle from the supply tank has reached within the container orother receptacle a predetermined level.

In accomplishing this object of the invention and ancillary thereto, Ipropose to provide the cut-off mechanism in association with the fillingspout in a manner such that the shut-off operation is accomplished bythe cooperative action of a float and the pressure of the liquid throughthe spout with no mechanical interconnections between the floatmechanism and the mechanism actuated under the pressure of the liquid.

It is a common occurrence in filling a container, such for example thetank of an automobile, with gasoline from a supply tank, that thegasoline overflows from the gasoline tank, with the result that there isnot only a loss of gasoline but also the flow upon the automobile bodyof the overflowing gasoline, presenting an unsightly and unpleasantappearance and ultimately, due to frequent occurrence of overflowing,resulting in injury to the finish of the automobile body. To preventthese undesirable conditions, I propose to utilize the buoyancy actionof the fluid in the gasoline tank in cooperation with the pressure ofthe fluid through the nozzle to automatically shut off the flow ofgasoline through the spout when the gasoline in the gasoline tankreaches a predetermined level.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention showing the sameapplied to a tank or other receptacle fragmentarily shown in sectionaldetail, the parts of the filling spout being shown in fluid dispensingposition;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross sectional detail view of thespout embodied in the invention, the parts of the filling spout beingshown in fluid obstructing position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially on line 3--3 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 4-4 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially online 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional detail view of the end of a spout similar tothat illustrated in Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of construction;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially online 1--'l of Fig. 6.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated thepreferred embodiment of my invention, It indicates the body of the spoutwhich in the form shown, (Figs. 1 and 2), includes a tube portion IIthat is adapted to be inserted through the nozzle l2 of a tank l3 intowhich fluid is to be delivered. This body In provides a handle l4 havinga passage l5 therethrough and adapted to be connected as at [6 (Fig. 1)to one end portion of a supply hose H. In this passage I5 is a valvedisc l8 pivotally mounted as at l9 and providing a finger lever 20adapted to selectively engage latch buttons 2| for latching the valvedisc 18 in a predetermined position with respect to the passage IS.

The body In preferably provides a hand guard 22, hereinafter more fullyset forth. Between the tube H and the handle M, the body I0 provides avalve chamber 23, normally closed by a screw cap 24, and providing avalve seat defining an orifice 26 through which communication is hadbetween the passage l5 and the tube I I. A valve head 21 is adapted toengage the seat 25 and this valve head 21 is carried by a valve stem 28,one end portion 29 of which projects into the valve chamber 23, and theopposite portion 30 thereof is slidably mounted through a suitablepacking nut structure 3| to the exterior of the body 10. The valve head21 is normally urged into valve closing position with respect to theseat 25 by an expansion spring 32 (Fig. 2).

Pivotally connected as at 33 to the hand guard 22, or an extendedportion 34 of the body [0, is a hand lever 35 disposed between thehandle I4 and the hand guard 22 where it may be readily grasped withinthe hand and pivoted in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig.2) for reasons hereinafter more fully apparent.

This hand lever 35 has pivoted connection as at 36 with a link 31 whichprovides, together 3 with that portion 37' of the hand lever 35, atoggle, which link 37 and portion Sl are adapted to be disposed inalignment with respect to each other when the valve head 2'! is disposedfrom valve closing position with respect to the seat 25, as shown indotted lines in Fig, 2. The link 3'. is pivotally connected as at 38 tothe exterior end portion of the valve stem 28.

The body ill, at one side of the tube l 9, provides a nipple 39.Threaded into this nipple 39 is a plug M3. Mounted on this plug it is adiaphragm 4!, the peripheral edges of which are fixed beneath aretaining ring or bezel 45-2.

The diaphragm 4! is collapsible under pres sure of the fluid in the tubeH, the pressure therein being created in a manner presently to.

be described. The diaphragm it is connected as at 43 to a stem to havinga threaded bore 45 in Thewhich is threaded an adjustable head is. headit is adapted to engage the link 3'! and portion 3?. on a linebifurcating. the longitudinal axis of the pivot 36.

The end ll of the tube H has mounted thereon a shield 58 provided with anumber of perforations 49. Within this Shield 4.8 and between the shield48 and the. end 41 of the tube i l is a float 50.. This float ispivotally connected by a link M to an arm 52 (Fig. 2). This arm is fixedto one end portion of a shaft 53. On this shaft 53 is. a valve disc 54.

Ehe float to may bev formed of any suitable material which has a buoyantaction when contacting the liquid or fluid being delivered to the tank13.

When filling the tank 13, the tube ll (as shown in Figs. 1 and 2), isprojected through the nozzle it. The operator holds the. body iii in hishand through the medium. of the handle i l and, by manipulation. of hisfingers, pivots the hand lever .35 from the full, line position. (shownin. Fig. 2) to the dotted line position. This. will dispose the links3'! and .37 constituting the toggle in alignment with respect to eachother and move the valve stem 2.8 against. the ion of he. spr n 32 todispose the. valve head 2? from valve closing position with respect tothe seat 2.5. Simu1- taneously with this movement of the valv stem 28,the stem (it will be moved to the left (as viewed in Fig. 2) and disposethe diapraghm H from the position. shown in full lines (Fig. 2) to thatshown in dotted lines in said figures With the parts in this position,the fluid now flows through the passage l5. through the orifice '26 intothe tube I! and therefrom into the tank E3. When the end of the tube His projected through they nozzle l2 into the tank 13 (as shown in Fig.i) the fioat 56;, by its own weight, will rock the shalt '53 in aclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 2) to dispose the valve disc 54in valve opening position (as shown in full lines, Fig. 2). As the fluidin the tank I3 approaches a predetermined level, the fluid will flowinto the shield it, through the open end. til thereof and the openingsto, and cause the float to move upwardly of the tube H to the positionshown in full lines in Fig. 2-. This movement of the float 59 will rockthe shaft 5'3 in a counterciockw-i-se direction to dispose the valvedisc 54- in a position where the pressure of the fluid flowing throughthe tube ll will complete the closing movement of the valve disc 54.sition, the flow of fluid from the tube ii, having been thus cut off bythe valve disc 5 2, the back pressure thereof will act upon thediaphragm 4i, collapse the same, and move the valve stem 4 to the right(as viewed in Fig. 2). This move- When in this closed podotted lines(Fig. 2).

ment of the stem 44 in this direction will break the toggle, causing thelink 31 and portion 31' to pivot to the position shown in full lines(Fig. 2) under the action of the spring 32, thereby allowing the valvehead 21 to move under the action of the spring 32 to valve closingposition.

To permit again the flow of fluid through the tube H, the operatorresets the parts (that is, the valve head 2'1 in valve opening positionand the diaphragm in a flat condition with the link 31 and portion Bl,consituting the toggle, in alignment), by pivoting the hand lever 35from the position shown in full lines to that shown in Upon withdrawalof the tube H from the nozzle l2, the float will return to itspositionas shown in dotted lines (Fig. 2), to return the valve disc 5 to valveopening position with respect to the tube ll, as shown in dotted lines(Fig. 2).

To regulate the flow of fluid through the passage l5, the operator mayadjust the. valve disc La to a proper position with respect to. thepassage l5.

'Ihus it is apparent that my device controls the flow of fluid into atank to a predetermined level by mechanism operated by the cooperationof the buoyancy of a float, and the pressure of the fluid in the tube ofthe spout, without any mechanical connection between the float or themechanism operated by the fluid pressure. The simplicity and efilciencyor my invention are apparent. from the. foregoing. description.

In Figs. 6 and 'Z, I have illustrated a slightly modified form ofconstruction over that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In. the illustration in.the forms shown in Figs. 6 and. 7, parts similar to those shown in Figs.1 and 2. will be indicated by similar reference numerals.v

In the form shown in Figs, 6 and the shield 55 has the tube ll insertedtherein concentrically with respect thereto and the float 5t. is in planview crescent-shaped. disposed between the tube H and the. shield 55,.The shaft 53,, carrying the valve disc. 54', has its. opposite endportions connected to a U-shaped bail 51', inv turn pivotally connectedto the float 56 by a. link 58. The operation of the float and valve disc(shown in Figs. 6 and 7) is substantially the same as the float 50 andvalve disc 54 in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It is obvious. that my improved filling spout may be used for.controlling the flow of fluid. to tanks and. containers. of sundry tormsand descriptions.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of.construction for carryingv my invention into. effect, this is. capableof variation and modifications without departing from the spirit of theinvention. 1, therefore, do not. wish to. be limited to the. precisedetailsv of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and. modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

l. A filling spout comprising a body providing a tube, a handleproviding a passage and having communication with the tube through anorifice provided by the body, a spring valve in said body for closingsaid orifice, a valvesaid tube for closing passage through said tube, abuoyant member carried by'said tube for closing said valve in said tube,fluid pressure actuated means arranged in said tube and actuated by thepressure of fluid in said tube when said valve in said tube is closed, atoggle providing operative connection between said fluid pressureactuated means and said spring valve for closing said spring valve whenthe fluid pressure in said tube actuates said fluid pressure actuatedmeans, and a handle integral with the toggle to actuate the toggle toopen said spring valve and reset said pressureactuated means into anormal position when said valve in said tube is in open position withrespect to said tube.

2. A filling spout comprising a body providing a tube, a handleproviding a passage and having communication with the tube through anorifice provided by the body, a spring valve in said body for closingsaid orifice, a valve in said tube for closing passage through saidtube, a buoyant member carried by said tube for closing said valve insaid tube, fluid pressure actuated means arranged in said tube andactuated by the pressure of fluid in said tube when said valve in saidtube is closed, operative connection between said fluid pressureactuated means and said spring valve for closing said spring valve whenthe fluid pressure in said tube actuates said fluid pressure actuatedmeans, said buoyant member including a float movable longitudinally ofthe tube, and a shield surrounding said float.

3. A filling spout comprising a body providing a tube, a handleproviding a passage and having communication with the tube through anorifice provided by the body, a spring valve in said body for closingsaid orifice, a valve in said tube for closing passage through saidtube, a buoyant member carried by said tube for closing said valve insaid tube, and fluid pressure actuated means arranged in said tube andactuated by the pressure of fluid in said tube when said valve in saidtube is closed, and operative connection between said fluid pressureactuated means and 4 said spring valve for closing said spring valvewhen the fluid pressure in said tube actuates said fluid pressureactuated means, said operative connection between said pressure actuatedmeans and said spring valve including a toggle and a hand lever forresetting said toggle against the action of said fluid actuated means.

4. A filling spout comprising a body having means for the passage of thefluid therethrough, means in said passage adjacent the outlet endthereof for closing said passage and adapted to be actuated by thebuoyant action of a fluid, and means in said body adjacent the inlet endthereof and actuated by pressure of fluid in said body for shutting offthe flow of fluid through said passage, said last named means includinga spring valve having a toggle construction and a pressure actuateddiaphragm for breaking said toggle.

5. Means for regulating the flow of fluid into a tank through a fillingspout in which spout there is a valve for controlling passage throughthe spout and a fluid pressure actuated means arranged in the tube ofthe spout, comprising a handle providing a link pivotally connected toan adjacent portion of the spout, a link pivotally connecting the linkof the handle to the valve, and a member of the fluid pressure actuatedmeans having pivotal connection with the handle at the point of pivotalconnection between the link of the handle and the link pivotallyconnected to the valve, for the purposes substantially described.

OLIVER F. RHODES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,363,123 Franck Nov. 25, 19442,418,280 Steen Apr. 1, 1947

